The W.S. Mount Octave Violin, designed by Dr. Don Rickert, IDSA of Don Rickert Research & Design in collaboration with Fiddarci Lutherie in Birmingham, is our William Sidney Mount "Cradle of Harmony" inspired instrument, with many modifications based on recent research in bowed string instrument acoustics.

Like the Darci Jones Model, this is a purpose-built (not a re-strung violin or viola) octave instrument with unbelievable projection and a nice deep timbre (unlike some other instruments, which are loud but 'thin')...this instrument has a sound distinct from a 'cello but projects like a fine 'cello!

This instrument differs from the Darci Jones Model (aka "Type II") Octave Violin in that it has the very large enigmatic reverse f-holes that William Sidney Mount used on many of his instruments. The result is a complex darker timbre than the Darci Jones. Like the Darci Jones Octave, the W.S. Mount Octave is loud and powerful with astounding projection. This is the octave violin favored by Alasdair Fraser.

We strongly recommend the CodaBow Diamond Series VIOLA bow or the Glasser Octagonal Braided Carbon Fiber Viola Bow for all of our octave fiddles and violins.